Italeri SSN-637 Sturgeon kit?

I too was looking for this Italeri Kit (I was amazed that anyone would produce a 1/35 scale Sturgeon Class Boat.)  I found this link wihile searching:

 

http://hsfeatures.com/features04/usssturgeonrd_1.htm

 

The name of the reviewer is Ron Dobrzelecki, just like in the gallery.  He talks about at Fisher Models 1/200 Scale Sturgeon SSN.  Picture looks like the same one in the article.  Pretty detailed information on what appears to be a resin cast model.  1/200 scale would be pretty good size.

 

Mikie

Hi QM

His last name was Archambault.. I will keep his first name secret..Nickname "Archy" of course. Him and I were in RVN around the same time and went to Sub School together.. He pulled orders for the 666 which was on the West Coast. I'll never forget this because the irony of the hull numbers..So I'm about 100% certain he would have been aboard around June 72 or so unless his orders were changed which they did often to HMs because of need for experienced Corpsman especially back then.. LOL Hey I went to the Bang.. My Dad said "let me get this straight you're going to a Submarine named Bang " I lost contact with him shortly after that. A while ago while looking up old shipmates I discovered that he had passed away a few years back.. Cancer I think.. Hey tell your Dad to keep an up bubble..

I edited the year.. In retrospect it was early 72 not 73.. I do have a case of CRS bigtime hee hee.

DBF, who was the corpsman? My father graduated USNA class of 71, so he should have been aboard 666 for a cruise to the Bering Strait I believe... the cruise where they sliced off a new (and expensive) test model towed array by turning too sharply and dragging the line over the screw.

If I were truly sadistic, I could model a chopped & frayed tow line trailing out the stern >:)

Quatermaster you are in luck. The YMW Sturgeon kit is a "Short Hull version. Your Fathers boat the Hawkbill SSN 666 was also a shorthull Sturgeon. So this may be your only choice. And the JAG 1/700 waterline kits just don't look right to me anyway. They look like a chunky Permit Class boat their sails are too short to be Sturgeons. The YKM kit is really nice. I have not seen the scale shipyard kits.

Bye the way I knew a Corpsman on the 666.. This was around 1973 or so. If your Dad was aboard her around then he would have know him too. 

The Scale Shipyard offers a fiberglass hull for the Sturgeon class in 1/96 th scale (36.5" loa x 4" beam) and 1/72nd scale (48" loa x 5.5" beam).  It appears that they may be releasing it in 1/48th scale as well.  The 1/96th scale version is listed as the STURGEON while the 1/72nd scale version is the ARCHERFISH.  Hulls are molded in two pieces, with a f/g sail, resin control surfaces, and plans.  You'll have to provide a prop. 

The consortiuum of Testors/Italieri re-released some of the 1:700 scale DML/Dragon subs under their label.   I know of the Los Angeles and the Ohio, eached paired with a Soviet adversary sub.   I don't specifically remember a Sturgeon by Testors/Italieri, but I do remember it by DML.   I built one whole hull and another surfacing through the icepack.

Being a submarine, and at their small scale size, there isn't a whole lot of detail provided in the kit.    You need to replace the prop one of Flagship Model's PE scimitar-blade props and, since your dad was a sonarman, complete the towed array deploy tube out the stern.

JAG Collective makes a resin 1:700 scale Sturgeon - as a waterline only kit.   No PE - none is needed since it only has those things which are above the water when surfaced.    The JAG kit also has a 1:700 scale DSRV included as these were carried by some Sturgeons.

The YankeeModelworks (ex Blue Water Navy) Sturgeon is a nice kit.   A PE prop is included as are white metal periscopes & masts.   The YMW kits make into nice display models of a decent size with a minimum of effort.

The Yankee modelworks kit is the only 1/350 or larger scale 637 kit that I'm aware of. I believe it's a long hull 637 which the 666 was I have this kit at home and I'll check and update later. ( I'm at work now LOL).

 I really can't remember Italieri ever doing a Submarine Model.  Dragon does a few plastic 1/350 and 1/700 688s and Ohios but the only Sturgeons I'm aware of are the Yamkee kit which is very nice and I believe there's a resin waterline Sturgeon in 1/700 out there too. If your doing this kit for your Dad the YKM kit is the way to go..

The toughest part of doing the YKM kits are removing the resin "plug" that is attached to their models keels.. Easy job with proper tools etc. As a footnote their latest kits are much much better in this regard..